Method and system for device specific application optimization via a portal server

• US 20050015772A1
• Filed: 07/16/2003
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Saare, John E., Mueller, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US10/622,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20050015772A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for device specific optimization of applications via a portal server. In one embodiment, a plurality of applications are resident upon a portal server. A plurality of application helper modules are respectively associated with each of the plurality of applications. Based upon the device type of a device requesting access to the portal server, an appropriate application helper is selected. When portal server requests a function to performed by the appropriate application helper module, the application helper module provides a link to the particular application. The portal server then displays the link to the particular application within a user-customizable display. The function requested can be to launch the application, or to perform some sub-process of the application.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a portal server for presenting a user customizable page comprising information and a plurality of links for invoking application functions;

a plurality of applications;

a plurality of application helper modules respectively associated with said plurality of applications, each application helper module for determining an application link to an associated application, wherein said link is of said plurality of links and is provided to said portal server in response to a function requested by said portal server and wherein said function is requested of said application helper module; and

a network framework for identifying a particular application helper module based on a determination of a device accessing said portal server.

2. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said particular application helper module is selected based on predetermined user interface capabilities of said device.

3. A system as described in claim 2 wherein said particular application helper module is associated with a particular application of said plurality of applications and wherein further said function requested by said portal server is to launch said particular application.

4. A system as described in claim 2 wherein said particular application helper module is associated with a particular application of said plurality of applications and wherein further said function requested by said portal server is to display information contained in a database record of said particular application.

5. A system as described in claim 2 wherein said particular application helper module is associated with a particular application of said plurality of applications and wherein further said function requested by said portal server is to modify preferences associated with said particular application.

6. A system as described in claim 5 wherein said link provided by said particular application helper module is null provided said particular application helper module restricts preference modification of said particular application.

7. A system as described in claim 2 wherein said particular application is an electronic mail application.

8. A system as described in claim 2 wherein said particular application is an electronic calendar application.

9. A system as described in claim 2 wherein said particular application is an electronic address book application.

10. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said particular application helper module is associated with a class of devices having substantially similar user interface capabilities.

11. A method for presenting information on a network system, said method comprising:

a) based on a determined device type of a device requesting access to a portal server, selecting an appropriate application helper module wherein said appropriate application helper module is associated with a particular application;

b) said portal server requesting a function to be performed of said appropriate application helper module;

c) said appropriate application helper module responding to said function by providing a link to said particular application; and

d) said portal server displaying said link to said particular application within a user-customizable display.

12. A method as described in claim 11 wherein said appropriate application helper module is selected based on predetermined user interface capabilities of said device requesting access to said portal server.

13. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said function requested by said portal server is to launch said particular application.

14. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said function requested by said portal server is to display information contained in a database record of said particular application.

15. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said function requested by said portal server is to modify preferences associated with said particular application.

16. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said link provided by said appropriate application helper module is null provided said appropriate application helper module restricts preference modification of said particular application.

17. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said particular application is an electronic mail application.

18. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said particular application is an electronic calendar application.

19. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said particular application is an electronic address book application.

20. A method as described in claim 11 wherein said appropriate application helper module is associated with a class of devices having substantially similar user interface capabilities.

21. A method for device specific optimization of applications via a portal server comprising:

determining a device type of a device requesting a function to be performed by a portal server;

selecting an appropriate application helper module from a plurality of application helper modules associated with a particular application, wherein said appropriate application helper is selected based upon said device type of the device requesting said function;

receiving a function request;

said appropriate application helper module responding to said function by providing a link to said particular application; and

said portal server accessing said particular application using said link.

22. A method as described in claim 21 wherein said appropriate application helper module is selected based on predetermined user interface capabilities of said device requesting access to said portal server.

23. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said function requested by said portal server is to launch said particular application.

24. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said function requested by said portal server is to display information contained in a database record of said particular application.

25. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said function requested by said portal server is to modify preferences associated with said particular application.

26. A method as described in claim 25 wherein said link provided by said appropriate application helper module is null provided said appropriate application helper module restricts preference modification of said particular application.

27. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said particular application is an electronic mail application.

28. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said particular application is an electronic calendar application.

29. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said particular application is an electronic address book application.

30. A method as described in claim 21 wherein said appropriate application helper module is associated with a class of devices having substantially similar user interface capabilities.